Silver Spoons

It's not very often that you come across a TV show, let alone a situation comedy, in which the father is portrayed as more childish than his son. Nevertheless, such a program came into fruition in the form of Silver Spoons, when it debuted on NBC in September 1982. Joel Higgins was perfect as Edward Stratton III, a wealthy man who discovers that he is the father of a 12-year-old boy named Ricky Stratton, played by Ricky Schroder. But who could have guessed that someone like Ricky Schroder, known for dramatic movies such as The Champ and The Earthling, would star in a sitcom? Regardless, Schroder was great as Ricky Stratton.

Silver Spoons is an enjoyable sitcom. The series ran for five years, on NBC from 1982 to 1986 and in first-run syndication from 1986 to 1987. It produced a total of 116 episodes. That was a good run. It has been over thirty years since the series ended its run, but I still have fond memories of it.

This was another show I watched back in the eighties. If you'd like to see some of the pop culture items from that decade, check out this program. Topsider boat shoes, Michael Jackson dance moves, Members Only Jackets--they're all in Silver Spoons in various places. One episode I remember vividly has Shroeder's character hacking into a military computer by mistake and downloading plans for a top-secret fighter jet--I'm serious! Let's see....oh, yes, there was the episode where he and John Houseman drive the family Mercedes through a wall into Higgin's character's office. Egad! I gotta stop. I'm having flashbacks :-).

Another one of my favorite shows during the '80s. Who couldn't help but love Rick Schroder as a kid? He moves in with his wealthy father and learns that dad has never really grown up himself. The show concentrated on the "little lessons" that each member of the show tried to provide each other with.

This show remains one of my favorite TV series, partly because I'm Ricky Schroder's age (and my high school class celebrated its 30 year reunion back in 2018). Watching the show takes me back to those formative years, and even now I really like how Ricky Schroder portrayed Ricky Stratton. Not only was he cute, especially during the first two seasons, but if you didn't know he was rich, you couldn't tell just by looking -- a far cry from those who feel "entitled" today. Granted, in later seasons, Ricky tried -- and frequently failed -- to be a ladies' man, but he always seemed likable and, more importantly, relatable. Though my memory of later seasons is hazy (mostly because only the first season is readily available), I'm pretty sure there were times I'd watch an episode and want to high-five Ricky, give him a hug, or strangle him. But at the end of the day, he was always someone you'd want as a friend.

The show ran the gambit of tackling different topics that '80s teenagers would have faced. in the early seasons they ranged from stuff like computer hacking (a la WarGames) to watching X-rated movies to dealing with the possibility of losing a parent while still a teenager. In later seasons the topics became more mature, like when a divorced father kidnaps his daughter from her mother or when one of Rick's friends has a drinking problem that ends up getting Rick injured.

Unfortunately I never had a VCR to record the show until after it ended, so right now I can only relive the first season in its entirety. What I would have liked to have seen, though, was perhaps some kind of special giving us a glimpse of what the characters would have been some ten years or show after the show ended. Would Ricky be as successful as his dad? Would he be married and have kids? What kind of father would he be (and what kind of grandparents would Edward and Kate be)?

This is another sitcom I've watched when I was a kid. It's a nice, heartfelt show about Ricky Stratton and his millionaire father, Edward. While Ricky is pampered with lots of materials possessions, Edward still takes raising Ricky seriously and tries to avoid spoiling him too much while still letting him have a great childhood.

It's a charming show full of life lessons, comedy and heartfelt moments and a little bit of drama as well. There's good acting for the most part.

I don't remember most of the show, but I did enjoy it as a little kid for the most part. And, it's full of innocence and family-oriented fare.

Grade B+